Welcome Newbies! We are so excited that you have decided to launch your cycling career on The Great Big FANY Ride.
In case you just spent all your money on your terrific new bicycle & now have no money left to buy camping gear, we have great news! REI rents tents & sleeping bags !! They have lots of stores ...hopefully one located near you ... and they even ship. Make your own arrangements directly with the knowledgeable staff at REI. Please be sure to tell them about the space limitations on our gear truck (30x15x15 per bag), and DO NOT rent any tents with the word circus or even family-sized in the name. http://www.rei.com/stores/rentals.html
ALSO - check out REIs really helpful videos:
How to Fix a Flat
How to Fit a Bike Helmet
A few long distance biking tips:
Water, water everywhere ... but when to drink? click here
Can I ride a hybrid bike?
People have completed The Great Big FANY Ride on all types of bikes. If you have a hybrid or comfort bike, and are confident that you have trained and can ride 35 or 70 miles a day on it, by all means, bring it. But, if you only have straight across handle bars, it is strongly recommended that you get some bar ends to have alternate hand positions, so that your hands will not fatigue from being in the same position for such an extended period of time. (In addition to the aerodynamic efficiencies of road bike dropped handle bars, those drops also provide optional hand positions.) Ideally, your bike will be lightweight with lots of gears, especially a GRANNY gear. If you are unfamiliar with the term GRANNY gear, run to your local bike store and tell them that you will be riding The Great Big FANY Ride with lots of hills and you want to be sure that your gearing is good for hills.
Ride at Your Own Pace:
Even though this will be your first long ride, it does not mean that you have bike it all at once. Stop and smell the roses. Explore local points of interest. Eat at farm stands. What is the average length of your training rides? Think of the route each day as several training rides, and stop and rest when you want to. Ride at your own pace. Guaranteed there are going to be bikers faster and slower than you ... make peace with that and be true to yourself. You came to ride the whole route, and if you ride faster than you are used to, then you run the risk of burning out early in the ride.
Clothes & Packing.
This is not a cruise, so packing efficiency is more prized than an extensive wardrobe. A suggested packing list is on the website. Many t-shirts come in the new, high tech wicking fabrics. They are more expensive than cotton t-shirts, but they really do help you feel cooler by removing sweat. Bike jerseys are not required, but they are also made from wicking fabrics, and often have up to three pockets on the back to carry snacks, spare inner tubes, cell phones, etc. You know, biker stuff. Padded bike shorts are strongly recommended for reasons that should be obvious. They also help to keep leg muscles compressed. If you dislike padded shorts, compression shorts are recommended. Pack for layers, so if the weather changes quickly you can add or take off just enough. Augie taught me that you can buy a pair of ladies trouser socks and cut off the seam across the toes to make a colorful pair of arm warmers that are much cheaper (have you had the privilege to meet Augie?) than store-bought arm warmers and they roll up really small when not needed. Speaking of rolling up, rain gear is most useful if it keeps you warm in a cold rain, but if it does not roll up or pack so that you can carry it easily with you on your bike, chances are you will not have it when you need it. Some rain gear packs into its own fanny pack, so you can wear it around your waist if it stops raining. Rain gear should have some reflective trim or logos to help you be spotted in poor weather conditions. Likewise, choose rain gear that is visible; yellow or HiViz green instead of fashionable black or navy. When not raining, suntan lotion helps keep you cooler than not wearing it, because it minimizes the UV from penetrating your skin and warming it up. Zip lock baggies are our friends. Pack your clothes in giant ones in your suitcase ... they will help keep your clothes dry in case it rains and they will keep your luggage organized. On your bike, small zip lock baggies can protect cell phones or other essentials from the rain. They also make great map covers in case, you guessed it, it starts to rain.
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